The Link Between Acne and Make Up

For any woman – and perhaps even men – when acne attacks, the first thing that they do is reach for the concealer, the foundation, the powder and the blusher. Acne is deeply unsightly and is accompanied by many negative social ideas, so it is completely reasonable for the desire to cover acne beneath a layer of make up to become overwhelming. Yet there can be real problems if makeup is layered on top of acne; perhaps the worst of this being, it can actually make your acne worse.

Acne forms because cells and follicles on the skin become blocked, usually due to excess fluid on the skin which then infects a follicle and causes a pimple. Acne is therefore, in it’s very essence, the manifestation of a blockage. Many dermatologists talk of ‘flushing’ the skin out in a bid to remove acne, and this is essentially the idea of remove the blockages and allowing pores and follicles to close naturally. This is how completely untreated pimples heal themselves, by allowing the body’s natural defences to solve the problem.

However, if a thick layer of makeup is applied on top of an already infected follicle and its accompanying pimple, the body is going to struggle to flush the infection away as effectively as it might. You are, by applying makeup, essentially trapping the infection in and making it have nowhere to go. When this is done, the healing times are much longer and the chances of acne recurring are high.

It may seem overly simple to say that one should simply stop covering pimples, particularly when they are such a huge influence on self esteem and confidence. After all, no one likes to go out with acne visible on their face, and the promise of makeup products that can disguise the problem are more than a little alluring. If you cannot stomach the idea of going without your cosmetic companions, there are steps you can take to lessen the effect that make up has on pimples.

When it comes to selecting cosmetics for acne sufferers, the keyword is light. Instead of many products, choose one simple, mineral based product which provides effective coverage. These brands may seem expensive, but by only using one product you are likely to actually save money. Use it sparingly and only when you are going to be seen in public, removing it thoroughly as soon as you are behind closed doors. With these simple changes, the vicious cycle of covering pimples with makeup that in turn cause pimples can be reversed.